Small painful bump in groin/buttocks area

Recently I found a small painful bump in my grown area/buttock area.  I thought it might be an ingrown hair, but when looked at just looks like raised skin.  It is pretty much no feeling to it, and i was able to poke it with a clean  sewing needle, and did not feel it.  I drained the bump but it seems to leak for a few days then come back as if nothing was done.  I am unsure of what to do about it.  Any ideas/cures?

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

The bump that you are talking about is a boil or a furuncle.It is due to infection of a hair follicle by staph aureua bacteria.It starts as a red,tender area and then becomes filled with pus which can be drained sponataneously or by surgical drainage.

Apply warm compresses on the boil and keep the area clean.Drainage is done only when the boil forms a head.You may also need antibiotics for this boil.Pls consult adermatologist for antibiotics prescription.If there are any recurrent boils then pls get your blood sugar evaluated.

Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted in case you have any additional queries